Setting the record straight on HMO landlords

Another day, another scathing media attack on HMO landlords.

We need to set the record straight!

This time private property investors are under fire for pocketing housing benefit payments.

According to Sky News, record levels of taxpayers’ money are being paid to private landlords, with the bill for accommodating social tenants in the private rental sector having doubled in a decade.

They report “New analysis by the National Housing Federation shows that the budget for placing social tenants in private rental accommodation has ballooned, doubling from £4.6bn in 2006, to £9.3bn last year.”

“The figures raise new concerns about government policy of shifting housing benefit recipients into the private sector, and whether the sector offers value for money.”

A Sky News team visited an area of west London where private companies are converting small family homes into houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) consisting of cramped bedsits for vulnerable people.

Critics say this creates an incentive for private companies to maximise profit by squeezing as many small units as possible into small houses.

At Epic Investments, it’s important for us to go on the record and say the tactics employed by unscrupulous landlords couldn’t be more different from the way we do business.

We work to stringent ethical standards and are members of a number of professional bodies – giving our investors and their tenants alike, peace of mind.

Whenever a story surfaces that knocks private landlords, inevitably it fails to point out that Government and local councils aren’t supplying affordable homes or council-rented property to keep up with demand. Private landlords fill the gap. Social tenants who are not classed in urgent need of accommodation will not be helped by councils. Housing Associations are charitable non-for-profit organisations set up specifically to plug the gap

Housing associations aims are to provide a high standard of living, support and eventually help tenants onto the right path and gaining employment

There are ‘bad apples’ in any walk of life and profession – and in a report like this latest media story, it may be that a particular landlord is effectively making use of the system.

But it’s really not difficult to find examples of many other landlords – who are housing tenants in a much more ethical manner – and don’t forget, providing urgently needed accommodation.

We work with housing associations whose tenants are on housing benefit. And we are proud to do so. Homes are far from cramped or squalid and exceed all regulations about space available and upkeep. Housing associations ensure an excellent service for tenants and support them in their daily lives in a number of ways.

In the housing sector where we are meeting the needs of such tenants, we recognise that they are decent people making tough choices and turning their lives around. Our core aim is to help these tenants out of their current situation so that they can find employment and no longer rely on benefits in the long term.

During the programme we are working on, housing associations will be looking to re-introduce tenants back into the private rented sector, help get them off benefits and pay their way

In fact, many of the tenants in our properties do have some form of employment or are in training programmes.

Whatever their circumstances,  we treat all of our tenants with respect – it’s a pity Sky News doesn’t report on that!